The plan for our redemption was not an afterthought, a plan formulated after the fall of Adam. It was a revelation of "the mystery which hath been kept in silence through times eternal." Rom. 16:25, R. V. It was an unfolding of the principles that from eternal ages have been the foundation of God's throne. From the beginning, God and Christ knew of the apostasy of Satan, and of the fall of man through the deceptive power of the apostate. God did not ordain that sin should exist, but He foresaw its existence, and made provision to meet the terrible emergency. So great was His love for the world, that He covenanted to give His only-begotten Son, "that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16.

Planen om vor forløsning var ikke noget, man først bagefter tænkte på, ikke en plan, der blev lagt efter Adams syndefald. Den var "åbenbaringen af en hemmelighed, der var fortiet fra evige tider." Rom. 16,25. Den var en åbenbarelse af de principper, der fra evige tider havde været grundvolden for Guds trone. Lige fra begyndelsen vidste Gud og Kristus besked om Satans frafald og om menneskets fald på grund af den frafaldnes vildledende magt. Gud havde ikke bestemt, at synden skulle være til, men han forudså dens eksistens og traf forberedelser til at imødegå denne frygtelige ulykke. Så stor var hans kærlighed til verden, at han sluttede en pagt om at give sin enbårne Søn, "for at enhver, som tror på ham, ikke skal fortabes, men have evigt liv." Joh. 3,16.